'Full investigation' into storm damage at Lismore hospital

UPDATE, Monday 8.10am: THE health service has said there will be a "full investigation" after a wild storm damaged Lismore Base Hospital yesterday.

WorkCover is expected to arrive at the hospital this morning to start investigations.

Executive Director of the Richmond Clarence Health Service Group, Lynne Weir, said scaffolding attached to the redevelopment of the hospital collapsed onto the obstetric area of the hospital late yesterday afternoon.

"Nineteen people were inside at the time, five mothers and their babies, two staff and seven visitors," she said.

"They were escorted by emergency services to another part of the hospital shortly after the incident.

"One nurse was treated for a minor back injury.

"The hospital remains operational.

"The emergency department was not affected and has continued to operate as normal.

"An exclusion zone had been set up around the site to ensure there is no further risk to patients, staff or the public.

"The construction site will remain closed until a full investigation has been undertaken and engineers have determined the site safe."

Lismore Base Hospital:
Emergency services were on hand as part of the scaffolding fell from the work site adjacent to the Lismore Base Hospital.

UPDATE 5.30PM:

FIVE babies and their mums were evacuated when the maternity ward of the Lismore Base Hospital collapsed during the recent rain storms just after 4pm today.

A COLLAPSE in the Lismore Base Hospital maternity ward has seen only minor injuries.

While multiple emergency service crews are responding to a building collapse at Lismore Base Hospital, it had been earlier reported that a number of people were unaccounted for and possible persons trapped.